Customs and Joint Task Force Seize 1.3 Tonnes of Ketamine in Bintan Waters
A joint task force comprising the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Indonesian National Police (POLRI), and the Indonesian Navy has foiled the smuggling of 1.3 tonnes of ketamine in the northern waters of Berakit, Bintan, Riau Islands. The interdiction of the vessel King Sun occurred on Friday (7/8) following a three-month intelligence monitoring operation.
During the operation, officers arrested eight crew members. Seven of the individuals are Myanmar nationals and one is a Taiwanese national. All suspects and evidence have been transferred to the Main Naval Base IV for further investigation.
The case began with intelligence analysis by the DJBC’s Narcotics Interdiction Directorate in May 2026. Based on cross-border information from Thailand, the King Sun was suspected of illegally transporting narcotics. Although the vessel appeared to abort a shipment in May, intensive monitoring continued until it moved towards the Gulf of Thailand in July 2026.
Inter-agency coordination was further strengthened after the DJBC received additional information from the Indonesian National Police in early August 2026 regarding the same vessel. This synergy led to the successful interception by the KRI Kerambit-627 and the Customs Patrol Boat BC-30005 in Bintan waters on Thursday (6/8).
A thorough search involving the Batam Customs K-9 Unit discovered evidence hidden in a compartment near the ship’s bridge. Officers found 65 large packages containing a total of 1,300 Chinese tea plastic packs, which tested positive for ketamine, weighing a total of 1,300 kilogrammes.
Acting Director of Narcotics Interdiction at DJBC, Erwin Situmorang, stated that the success was the result of lengthy observation and cross-agency synergy. “This success is the result of three months of observation and intelligence analysis, supported by cross-agency synergy so that the enforcement execution could proceed smoothly,” he said during a press conference on Sunday (9/8).
The suspects face charges under Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. The penalties include a minimum of five years’ imprisonment, life imprisonment, or the death penalty, along with a maximum fine of IDR 10 billion. The joint task force continues to conduct legal proceedings and further investigation into the case.